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There’s no question that this is a tough time for job seekers, but Millennial college graduates are also grappling with a huge disconnect between what they are taught in school — degrees correlate with salaried positions — and how those jobs just simply aren’t around anymore. Even with adjusted, or lowered, expectations, millions of Millennial college graduates find their only opportunities are for positions where $10 an hour is aiming high, benefits are non-existent, and a paid vacation is a laughable concept.

It may be simple to disregard this issue to the disenfranchised slackers or those working McJobs, but it’s actually much more pervasive and widespread than anyone wants to acknowledge. “We’re definitely seeing more contract or project-based opportunities, says Monster.com’s Charles Purdy. “You can’t [easily] walk out with a degree and straight into a job where you will be for the next [few] years.”

I first noticed this new job reality as my classmates, and then the subsequent ones, began entering the workforce after graduation. Our individual circumstances became too frequent and common to ignore. We were receiving job offers, but each featured parameters that were more in line with our teenage retail experiences — hourly pay, no paid vacation time — than what our college-educated parents received when they entered the job market. It didn’t matter what the position was for or what our degree was based upon. One friend, for instance, received an offer to work as an accountant for a relatively successful firm, yet he was offered the same conditions as he had when he was a waiter. And to expect anything different was unrealistic (and to ask for anything more would eliminate you from contention).

On a larger scale, a brief rundown of Craigslist job postings in any U.S. city illuminates this new reality. Whether the position is under business, marketing, or technology, employers require 4-year degrees, pay minimally (typically $10-$12 hour), or pay solely on commission. The so-called “traditional” job opening consisting of an annual salary and full benefits is extremely rare. It’s incomprehensible to think of employers offering anything beyond the bare-bone basics, such as relocation pay, bonuses, or 401K plans.

One reason for this shift is rooted in the fact that small businesses now employ 52% of U.S. workers, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. These mom-and-pop businesses are typically exempt from offering the standard perks that larger firms are required to provide. It’s not the fault of these smaller companies, as they are doing everything they can just to stay afloat and naturally just want to keep costs as low as possible.

But even those employers who can afford perks (or at least benefits) are redefining the job market. Numerous corporations, including Viacom, Conde Nast, Aetna, and MassMutual, have laid off regular employees only to replace them with temporary or hourly contractors.

And Millennials can’t even rely on the U.S. Government for cushy benefits and salary. I recently spoke with a Fish + Wildlife Ranger with a degree in biology who has been there for seven years and is only making $9/hour. Another 12-year F&W veteran just received a $.50-cent raise, to earn $11.50/hour. These two workers are not isolated examples. The majority of open postings on the Federal Government’s website lists hourly salaries ranging from $10 to $15/hour for entry-level positions, with college graduates primarily starting on the lower end. Plus, these government positions aren’t likely to be full-time; the majority of entry-level openings are for internships, are temporary, or operate as an on-contract basis.

Thus Millennials are forced to adjust to a job market that is diametrically opposite to what their parents experienced and their own expectations. College degrees don’t guarantee health benefits, vacation time, or even business cards anymore. It’s hard to reconcile that the retail worker and marketing analyst are paid equally, despite the fact that one requires a college degree, but that’s the new reality. Nevertheless, there are a few options available to Millennials other than to passively accept that $10/hour is the new benchmark for a degree-requiring job. “It’s easy now when the economy is so challenging to throw up your hands and say everything is hopeless. And that it’s impossible to find a job that is both satisfying and pays well. But the successful ones will take responsibility and make plans. You have to move your own career and think about your long-term growth potential,” says Purdy.

He recommends job searchers proactively seek out positions, demonstrate their value, and set their own demands. He admits that low-wage jobs may be disheartening, but points out that they tend to possess other benefits that help further careers. “You may earn less money, but you are developing skills, building contacts and [strengthening] the resume. It’s important to invest in the long-term future.” There’s also the ever-popular path for job hunters to start their own businesses. And let’s hope these Millennial entrepreneurs revert back to offering job packages like our parents received.